PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Charles (ranked 6731 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Devira (ranked 6825 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Devira has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Charles
vs
Devira

189 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikel Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnny Devira!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Devira looking to score a takedown here. Charles is defending well but Devira drives through and ends up in Charles's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Charles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Devira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Devira postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Devira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Devira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Charles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Devira trying to control the position from guard on top but Charles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Charles manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Devira manages to get himself to full guard.

Charles stops Devira from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Devira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Charles throws a big elbow that misses.
Devira looking to control but Charles passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Devira looking for subs from the bottom but Charles mounts him!
Charles with good strikes from the mount here!
Devira is looking to get to half guard.
Charles avoids the attempt from Devira to control.
Devira is wriggling around trying to escape.
Charles with shots to the head and body - Devira looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles is landing with some decent strikes but Devira is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Devira wants to control but Charles is having none of it.
Devira holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Charles tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Charles postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Devira looks a forlorn figure.
Charles lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Charles punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devira is trying to stand.
Devira tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Devira tries to hold on but Charles pushes him away.
Charles looking to control and managing it successfully.
Devira tries to lock up and control but Charles gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Devira trying desperately to get to his feet.
Charles lands a big shot there that rocks Devira but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Devira bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Charles has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Devira has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devira is trying to ground and pound but Charles uses the momentary lack of control by Devira to regain half guard.

Charles looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Charles regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Devira.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Devira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charles is keeping the position for now.
Charles is trying to hold Devira in close to prevent damage but Devira has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikel Charles dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Charles moves out of range as Devira throws a body kick.

Devira scores with a takedown into Charles's guard.
Devira throws a big elbow that misses.

Charles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Devira wants to control from the top but Charles keeps moving.

Charles is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mikel Charles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devira looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charles working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Devira has passed into half guard!
Devira uses his free foot to push down on Charles's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Charles.
Devira throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Charles tries to control Devira's body but Devira pushes him off. Charles squirms to his side and now Devira has his back!

Devira is looking for a choke. Charles gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Charles manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Charles preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devira trying to control the position.
Devira is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Charles dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devira is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devira defending against the ground and pound.
Devira tries to escape but Charles is in control.
Devira tries to improve position but can't.
Charles throws an elbow but Devira slips to the side and avoids it well.
Devira tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Charles easily slips into full mount!
Charles blocks Devira's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Devira in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Charles looking to control and managing it successfully.
Devira tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Devira blocking the ground and pound.
Charles lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Devira hang on?
Devira is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Devira tries to hold on but Charles pushes him away.
Charles controlling the pace for now.
Devira avoids a series of strikes thrown by Charles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mikel Charles will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Charles keeps the fight on the outside.

Devira rushes Charles and presses him up against the cage.
Charles is trying to pull guard but Devira turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Devira breaks the clinch.
Devira lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Charles circles away quickly and effectively.
Charles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Devira can do to turn this around?

Devira gets a double leg takedown into Charles's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Charles manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Devira turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Devira manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Charles is trying to control Devira's posture but Devira avoids it.
Devira working the strikes but Charles uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles wants to improve his position but Devira is controlling well.
Charles is trying to control but can't.
Devira is keen to just control but Charles is a slippery customer.
Charles gets back to full guard.
Devira must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Charles throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Devira postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Charles is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Devira, into his guard.

Devira trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devira trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Charles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Devira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Devira has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Charles is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Devira.
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That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devira is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Charles is controlling him well.
The strikes coming from Charles are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Devira is trying to improve his position.
Charles looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Devira is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Charles throwing shots but missing, from side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Devira dodges the ground and pound from Charles.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Devira fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Devira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Charles is trying to defend but Devira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Devira seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mikel Charles.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Charles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikel Charles!